Nestlé Zimbabwe, Naph work on new deal

Sport
NESTLÉ Zimbabwe is considering a new sponsorship deal with the National Association of Primary School Heads (Naph) athletics, an official has said.

NESTLÉ Zimbabwe is considering a new sponsorship deal with the National Association of Primary School Heads (Naph) athletics, an official has said.

RONALD MOYO SPORTS REPORTER

Nestlé Zimbabwe and Naph entered a three-year deal in 2012 and the contract expires at the end of this year.

This year’s sponsorship package was $60 000.

The sponsors also emphasised on physical education (PE) saying the subject was dying a natural death in schools and the only way to bring it into life was to promote it through sport.

Nestlé Zimbabwe Corporate affairs manager Farai Munetsi yesterday confirmed the development saying they were impressed by Naph. He applauded Bulawayo and Matabeleland North provinces for their performances during the Naph inter-provincial competitions held in Hwange last week.

“We are very impressed by the level of professionalism by Naph. We had a three-year deal that expires this year, but we want to continue sponsoring their activities. They have also managed to bring PE to life.

“It promotes healthy lives of the young athletes as well as bringing up future athletes. I am also impressed by the way Bulawayo and Matabeleland North performed,” Munetsi said.

In the previous years it was Mashonaland West, Mashonaland East, Manicaland and Masvingo who dominated, but it looks like it is no longer the case.”

Bulawayo came second, trailing champions Mashonaland West by three silver and three bronze medals after the two provinces had bagged 12 gold each.

Sprinters Ndumiso Ncube, Mthabisi Dube and Shyleen Kasema, high jumper Thandazani Moyo, Nqobani Ndlovu and Blessed Mudenda — all from Bulawayo — made it to the Under-14 national team that will compete in the Confederation of Southern Africa Schools Association games next month in Botswana.

Matabeleland North came fourth with 10 gold, nine silver and seven bronze.

The two provinces have not been doing well in the past years as they took turns with Matabeleland South to swap the last position.

Naph president Cynthia Khumalo said the relationship between the association and Nestlé Zimbabwe is professional and she is optimistic the sponsors will table a new deal.

“Since we started working with Nestlé Zimbabwe we have improved,” she said.

“The relationship is very professional because they even sponsored workshops in all parts of the country and those workshops have contributed positively because the provinces are improving, especially in PE. I am very optimistic they will continue sponsoring us,” she added.